MedStar called for two injured in separate accidents
May 17, 2011
EMTs work to stablize Tanya Currie after she collided with a Swift semi at about 9:22 a.m. Tuesday. After being extricated from her vehicle, she was transported by helicopter to Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d'Alene, with what were reported to be, amazingly, non-life threatening injuries.
A Bonners Ferry woman is reported to have suffered non-life threatening injuries after colliding with a south-bound semi on U.S. 95 this morning, and a Bonners Ferry man was injured shortly after 1 p.m. in a tractor roll-over in Paradise Valley. MedStar helicopters were called in for both accidents.

According to the Idaho State Police, Tanya L. Currie, 37, Bonners Ferry, was pulling onto U.S. 95 from the stop sign on Deep Creek Loop near Mirror Lake Golf Course at about 9:22 a.m. to head north in a 2010 Pontiac Vibe and pulled into the path of a 2009 Volvo semi being driven south by Thomas Hardy, 45, Emmett, Idaho.

Hardy apparently swerved into the north-bound lane in an attempt to avoid the collision, but Currie struck the vehicle, going partially underneath the semi trailer. Currie had to be extricated from her vehicle, and while extrication was underway, a MedStar helicopter landed at the golf course to transport her to Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d'Alene.

Hardy was not injured in the collision, which partially blocked U.S. 95 for about four hours.

Not long after that accident scene was cleared, a second alarm sounded at 1:16 p.m. following a report of a tractor roll-over on Bridle Path Road in Paradise Valley, and law enforcement personnel, Paradise Valley firefighters and ambulance personnel were again scrambling.

A MedStar helicopter was also called in for Elden Merrifield, 72, who was found on the ground near the tractor, responsive but turning blue in the face. Before the helicopter could arrive, ambulance personnel transported him to Boundary Community Hospital complaining of chest pains.

Merrifield's condition is not known.